Merry Christmas

Sometimes it’s nice to state the obvious—that’s what most Christmas cards do. In celebrating Christmas, it’s not the date of Jesus’ birth that’s important, but the stunning fact of his incarnation. In his infinite creativity and freedom, God reached down to us by becoming one of us. In doing so, he delivered the joyous good news of who he is for us and who he has made us to be in him.

Irenaeus, a second-century Christian teacher, put it this way:

For, in what way could we be partakers of the adoption of sons, unless we had received from Him through the Son that fellowship which refers to Himself, unless His Word, having been made flesh, had entered into communion with us? Wherefore also He passed through every stage of life, restoring to all communion with God. (Against Heresies, Book 3, 18.6-7)

As the apostle Paul explained, the eternal, all-powerful Son of God willingly put himself through this profound change, taking upon himself our fallen human nature and mortal body:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The angels celebrated with great joy when Jesus was born. Let us join in the celebration!